Philly 2012 Update #3

Okay there were not 22 guys and 2 girls in Novice. I said that but the mistake was totally not my fault, it was my mouse’s fault. My mouse had a ghost moving it all weekend, relocating chunks of sentences all over the page, deleting words, reappearing them three paragraphs later, creeping around on its own like a Ouija board. Ooo-wee-ooo. Fuhreaky. I’m serious here, not joking. My mouse was scaring me.

My mouse makes mistakes but I don’t. What I tell is 347% exactly the way it happened.

Anyway there were not two but 25 girls in Novice. Also in Strictlys it was Keith (Ying Kit) Chow who took 1st with Jessie, and Jim (Ying Chi) Chow who took 2nd with Taryn. Also also: Cordoba and Brian Kidd DJ’d Friday not Anthony DeRosa.

So Saturday night’s show!

Five great performances, Robert emcee-ing. Robert does such terrific intros! We’ve talked about this – it’s not done haphazardly at all. He prepares. He wants to honor people, give respect, acknowledge people for their years of commitment and accomplishments. He wants the community to know who they are, know the work that goes into what we see on the floor. He wants us to appreciate our shared history.

So first to dance was John Festa, the wonderful, famous Festa (with Jessica Cox as his partner.) Robert gave a lengthy loving introduction adding “I’ve always been impressed by John’s teaching ability. His dancing ability. And his … his … CLOTHING. [long pause] [followed by audience erupting in laughter]. Robert’s timing is impeccable. Last year Festa was inducted into both Living Legends and the WSDC Hall of Fame. John Festa is the reason my husband is a swing dancer. Genieboy saw Festa (with Ramiro) and in that moment knew he had to do that. (This weekend two other men independently mentioned to me that Festa is the reason they’re dancing. He’s an amazement.) And then Robert introduced Jessica. Jessica once won a bingo game.

But what a gorgeous dance this was! “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” – lovely jazz version (Glen Miller maybe? Ray Conniff?) Man oh man! So SMOOTH! They slid to the music. They *were* the music. Quick little twists and poof! the slot changed angles, blip, ronde, poof! the slot moved back again, so gentle, graceful, soft shapes and pictures on the floor to every sweet jazzy turn of the music. It melted in your mouth this dance, an exuberant sunshiney joy of a dance. And Festa so handsome in his shiny copper and black lace brocade jacket! So elegant. Not a person in the room not smiling and tapping their feet and nodding their head in time.

Next Robert and Deborah (maybe the longest introduction Robert’s ever given but how could he not? Between these two? They’ve done and won everything) and oh my goodness an astonishing performance. People said later that of everything they saw this weekend and maybe everything they’ve ever seen ever that this dance of Robert and Deborah’s was maybe their favorite thing. Pure lead-and-follow (which Robert, aghast himself, said afterwards he knew for a fact was actually truly lead-and-follow) to “Rock With You,” a smooth jazz remix and a choreographer’s (or leader’s) candy basket of a song crammed with treats – hits, sudden stops, rhythm changes, witty plays on the melody. Robert couldn’t have enjoyed the song more. And Deborah danced with him that way she does, as an extension of him, finishing his sentences, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and a cherry on his ice-cream sundae. What a dance. Jaw-dropping.

Then Jessica Cox, formally introduced. Robert told us she’s done plenty more than winning a bingo game, dancing since she was six (“She was just legs, arms, and a head stuck on top. No torso”) many time USOpen winner, and known and beloved around the country and the world for spreading fun, cheer, support, passion, and generosity of spirit and love. Jessica, as everyone who has ever met her knows, walks into a room and the sun shines. She’s a joy, a bubbly, bouncy joy, with an enormous smile and a loud infectious laugh.

And John Lindo, her partner, who’s won every Jack and Jill and Strictly there is to win, and whom, Robert told us, he met in Texas in 1990-something (cough*ahem), where they were both attending a two-step workshop, and in the morning he hears knock knock on his door and it’s Lindo inviting him across the hall to his room where he and some friends had brought a hot-plate and were cookin’ up a hearty Texas breakfast (“Who does that?!?” Robert asked us, “Who brings a hot plate to the hotel?!?”) and Robert and Lindo have been friends ever since. Lindo runs a brilliant event in June – Liberty Swing! Not to be missed! (Updates from last year’s Liberty are here if you want to get a little bit of a picture of what it’s like:

And finally Jessica and John Lindo took the mic to introduce Robert and Nicola, saying they always get such great intros from Robert and now they’d like to return the favor, Jessica telling what wonderful dancers the Roystons are and what a loving couple. Robert was last year inducted into the Hall of Fame Lindo told us (adding that this is because Robert is O.L.D. which is also why Cordoba and Festa are in there, because they are all old, very old) and this year Robert and Nicola, both of them, have been inducted into Living Legends. Jessica and Lindo interrupting each other to lavish praise and compliments on the Roystons until a tiny voice from the far back of the room called “We better not suck tonight …” and Robert and Nicola came out to perform their gorgeous Showcase routine, “Edge of Glory,” this time with changes in both choreography and style of movement style which affected the whole tenor and feel of the routine. Palpable, obvious difference, best we’ve ever seen them dance this routine.

And then Awards! Hope I caught these names right. I’m sure I did, because I am 347% good at catching names.

$2,110 total given in prize money which was 100% of contest registration fees – Rob and Sheila gave all the money right back to the contestants.

And the winners of the first Philly event! Freedom Swing 2012! ….

Newcomer

James Cahn and Marissa Vleheleny

Bruce Hflafla and Christina Chadwick

Peter Boo and Dawn Boobalefski $100

Cory Flower and Christina Ricci $185

Lucas Win and Nicole Crack $310

Novice

Brian Kane and Amber Hicks

Randolph Peters and Barbara Jackson

Marla Mills and Lauren Zerlefkey $125

Curt Kothera and Nadya Serova $190

Lou Sheridan and Daphne Blahblah $315

Intermediate

Roy Legaspi and Angela Risser

John The Rock Nye and Cali Buntin

Sean Brennan and Sarah Wheeler $90

Ying Chi and Mariel $104

Jason Lane and Sally Charles oops didn’t catch how much moola

Advanced/Allstar

Dave Raines and Stephanie Risser

Matt Smith and Alysia Marie Bonvino

Brad Wheeler and Sascha $80

Dave Damon and Kay $125

Alan Lee and NaKedra Higgins $200

Pizza Party after Awards, there in the back of the ballroom, and actually enough pizza! No long lines at the tabe and a stack of realllly good pizza. We always get hungry after awards so this was so appreciated, people loved it.

Speaking of good food: Karen Beck invited a bunch of us out for authentic Philly Cheese Steaks. I had to miss out (dang. my loss. what a loss) but I have had Philly cheese steaks and they are gooooood. I’m thinking Philadelphia cheese steaks need to be a part of this event somehow. Karen also brought our table a bag of to-die-for authentic Philadelphia Hot Pretzels with a big bowl of good mustard for dipping. The smell of these pretzels! You could faint from delight. Karen is an angel. I’m thinking Philadelphia Hot Pretzels need to be a part of this event too. Karen also brought Philadelphia cheese cake. Karen! Karen! I love you Karen! Cheese cake? Authentic Philadelphia cheese cake? Yeah I think cheese cake needs to be a part of this event.

Saw Rob and Sheila on my way out Sunday afternoon – all smiles. Sheila didn’t have final numbers yet but she knew they got well over 400 registrations. That’s great for a first year!